[AEJMC Newspaper Division list] A rose by any other name

[Paul Steinle]

Names are powerful. The current use of "ground-zero mosque" for a  
mosque that is not at "ground zero" demonstrates the confusing power  
of mis-naming.

Whatever more definitive, accurate or relevant name we chose should  
still reference "newspapers" as its foundation. Why? Because newspaper  
revenues still drive this jounalism enterprise.

We've visited 10 newspapers thus far (40 to go) and none of them  
predict online or digital revenues will finance their newsrooms within  
the next five years.

The newspaper industry tilt is toward renaming its companies "media"  
companies, but that begs the question about why radio & TV "news  
media" don't fit under that moniker.

A mouthful like "Newspapers and derivative digital news media" seems  
most accurate. (The trouble with "online" is all the mobile media  
reception devices: are they online?)

But why not persist with the name "newspaper" for the time being, so  
we don't ignore what is paying the bills.

The industry is in transition; isn't wiser to observe and adapt our  
curricula without re-branding who we are and what we are studying  
before all the dust settles.

Paul Steinle

Sent from my iPhone
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